NEW YORK-- The Energy Department is expected to report on Thursday that the nation's natural gas supplies shrank by 90 billion to 94 billion cubic feet in the week ended March 29, according to a survey of analysts by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.
*Ukraine seeks more exposure to spot market in Europe. MOSCOW, March 31- Ukraine is using a "fraudulent scheme" to carry out reverse shipments of Russian gas from the European market, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said late on Saturday, further raising tensions in a price dispute with Kiev.
*Coming up: EIA natgas storage data, Baker Hughes rig data Thursday.
NEW YORK, March 27- U.S. natural gas futures edged higher on Wednesday for a second straight day, with chilly weather forecasts for the next week or more driving the new front-month May contract to its highest mark in more than 18 months.
NEW YORK, March 27- U.S. natural gas futures rose more than 1 percent early on Wednesday, with the new front-month May contract reaching its highest mark in more than 18 months amid lingering cold weather in consuming regions of the nation. As of 9:51 a.m. EDT, May natural gas futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange.